Velvet Underground / Iron Butterfly – June 7‑9 1968 Avalon Ballroom

Jun 7, 1968

2 min read

VENUE: Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco CA DATES: June 7‑9 1968

SECTION: Concert Poster TITLE: Iron Butterfly / Velvet Underground / Crome Cyrcus – FD‑122 “Iron Butterfly”

This first‑printing psychedelic poster promoted three nights at the Avalon Ballroom featuring Iron Butterfly, The Velvet Underground, and Crome Cyrcus. Known as FD‑122 in the Family Dog numbered series, it was designed by Bob Schnepf, who signed the piece in silver pen at the lower right. The poster earned a near‑perfect CGC 9.9 Mint grade, making it one of the finest known examples.

The design shows a surreal female figure with enormous purple‑and‑black butterfly wings against a green velvet background — a visual pun on the headliners. The dates “7‑8‑9” are cleverly hidden beneath the word “June.” The poster measures 13 ⅛ × 20 inches and was printed by Family Dog Productions.

EVENT: Iron Butterfly / Velvet Underground / Crome Cyrcus

ERA: 1968 – San Francisco psychedelic rock period TONE: Surreal and ornate

NOTES: One week after these shows, Atco/Atlantic Records released In‑A‑Gadda‑Da‑Vida, Iron Butterfly’s landmark album featuring its 17‑minute title track.

The record became one of the biggest‑selling albums of 1969, outpacing even the Beatles and Stones in U.S. sales.

At this point, Lou Reed’s Velvet Underground still included founding multi‑instrumentalist John Cale, alongside Sterling Morrison and Moe Tucker.

Nico and Andy Warhol were no longer involved, marking the end of the band’s original artistic phase. Their appearance at the Avalon captured the group’s raw, experimental sound before Cale’s departure three months later.

Seattle’s Crome Cyrcus (often misspelled on posters) had recently relocated to San Francisco and released their album Love Cycle on Piccadilly Records. Their music blended classical references, pastoral flute passages and wild guitar solos — a perfect fit for the psychedelic scene.

The LP’s title track ran over 17 minutes, mirroring Iron Butterfly’s extended compositions.

Artist Bob Schnepf’s work here is considered one of the most elegant in the Family Dog series, combining fluid Art Nouveau curves with cosmic imagery. The green fabric beneath the butterfly may even represent crushed velvet — a subtle nod to the Velvet Underground.

Sources: Heritage Auctions; Family Dog Archives; Discogs; Wikipedia Copyright © 1968 Family Dog Productions / Bob Schnepf Artwork. All rights reserved. Archival reproduction for educational and historical reference only.